Rassie Erasmus

Johan "Rassie" Erasmus (born 5 November 1972 in Despatch, Eastern Cape) is a South African rugby union coach and former player, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in world rugby . He began his elite playing career with Free State in 1994 and went on to represent the Cats, Golden Lions and Stormers in Super Rugby, earning 36 caps for the Springboks between 1997 and 2001 . He was part of the South Africa squad that won the 1998 Tri Nations and played at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, where the Springboks finished third . Known for his innovative approach even as a player, he famously travelled with a computer and printer on tour in the late 1990s to analyse opposition . After retiring in 2003, Erasmus moved into coaching with Free State Cheetahs, leading them to Currie Cup glory in 2005 — their first title since 1976 . He later coached the Stormers and served as Director of Rugby at Western Province before spending two successful years (2016–2017) as Director of Rugby at Irish province Munster, where he won the Pro12 Coach of the Season award . In 2017, Erasmus returned to South Africa as the first-ever SARU Director of Rugby. Following the dismissal of Allister Coetzee, he was appointed Springbok head coach in March 2018 . In 2019, he guided South Africa to their third Rugby World Cup title and was named World Rugby Coach of the Year . He stepped back to his Director of Rugby role after the tournament, but returned as head coach in 2024 and led the Springboks to a historic back-to-back Rugby World Cup victory in 2023 . In 2024, he received an honorary Philosophiae Doctor in Coaching Science from North-West University for his exceptional management during the 2019 and 2023 World Cup campaigns .